Marsilea quadrifolia L.

Water Clover, Pepperwort

Marsilea quadrifolia is a perennial, mostly aquatic, fern, highly suitable as aquarium plant. In trade it often sold under the names Marsilea exarata, Marsilea hirsuta, Marsilea crenata and Marsilea drummondii, however, it is not sure whether the respective plant was identified correctly. Most species of the genus Marsilea can only safely be identified in their emersed form by means of their sporocarps.

Submitted by: Heiko Bleher

GPS: 11.8776293, 75.5774536

Geographical region: Southern Asia
Drainage Basin: Arabian Sea
River catchment
Water body type: River
Water body name: Anjarakandy
Water body part
Water body course: Middle course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name

Type locality: Native to Europe and Western Asia, introduced to North America, Australia.
Conservation status/IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (NT)
Listed in CITES: No

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Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: Fresh water
Water color: Clear water
Water transparency: Medium
Concentration of sediments: Medium
Water temperature: 20-25 °C
Water flow/curent: Slow

Chemical parameters

pH: 6.0-7.5
Conductivity
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Phytology

Plant form

Emersed

Plant type

Carpeting

Plant size

In Nature up to 20 cm, in the aquarium 10 cm

Plant growth rate

Plant light demand

Medium

CO2

Medium

Aquarium equipment

This group of ferns is popular as foreground carpeting aquarium plant. Maintenance involves thinning out the mat of plants as they become too thick.

Plant care

Marsilea quadrifolia is easy to keep in the aquarium and can be grown in moderate lighting. In the natural environment the preference is full or partial sun, and shallow water up to 10cm deep or wet muddy ground.

Water care

This aquatic fern will adapt to either stagnant or slow-moving water.

Comment by the expert

Marsilea quadrifolia has been spread to new areas primarily by human activities and in some countries is on the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) list. This involves such activities as leaves with sporocarps clinging to recreational boats or their trailers, careless disposal of aquarium plants into bodies of water or storm sewers, escape from water gardens as a result of flooded conditions, and people deliberately introducing this fern into natural areas because they think it is a desirable ornamental plant.